Online Shopping Scams in India: How to Stay Safe

Why deals attract scammers

People are in a hurry during sales and they are excited about big discounts. That is exactly what fraudsters rely on. They copy the look of well-known stores, post unbelievable prices and push you to act before you think. The tricks are old and repeat often, so they are easy to recognise once you know them.

Common scams to watch out for

• Fake offer links. A message promises a free phone or a huge voucher if you click and fill a form. The link leads to a cloned site that asks for card details or an OTP.
• Cloned shopping websites. A site with a nearly identical name sells branded goods at very low prices. After you pay, nothing arrives. Look for spelling errors in the address and check how old the site seems.
• OTP and UPI collect requests. Someone asks you to approve a 'refund' or 'reward' on your UPI app. Accepting a collect request takes money out of your account, it never brings money in.
• Fake customer care numbers. Scammers list false helpline numbers in search results. Use the support option inside the official app or website.
• Advance-payment sellers. A seller on social media asks for payment before showing the product and then disappears.
• Counterfeit goods. The listing looks real but the item is a copy. Prefer official stores for brands that are widely faked.

A safety checklist

• Type the store's address yourself or use its official app instead of tapping a link from a message.
• Check for the lock icon, but remember scam sites can use it too, so also read the address letter by letter.
• Never share your OTP, PIN, CVV or UPI PIN with anyone, even support staff.
• Pay through the store's own checkout. Avoid paying a person directly for a 'deal'.
• Prefer cash on delivery or a reputable payment gateway for unfamiliar sellers, and inspect the package before accepting it where possible.
• Keep screenshots of the listing, order confirmation and chats.

How to check a seller or website

Search the store's name along with words such as 'reviews' or 'complaints'. Look for a physical address, a contact email on a business domain and clear return and refund policies. Be careful with sites that only accept bank transfers. On marketplaces, open the seller's profile and read recent feedback, not just the rating.

What to do if you were scammed

• Contact your bank immediately through its official helpline and ask to block the card or reverse the transaction.
• Report the fraud on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in or call the national helpline 1930, which is meant for financial cyber fraud.
• Change passwords on any account where you used the same password, and turn on two-step verification.
• Report the fake page or number to the platform where you saw it.

How we try to keep you safe

Our links go to the store's own pages, such as Amazon, Flipkart or a brand's official site. We never ask you for money, OTPs or card details, and we never run paid giveaways. If anyone claiming to be us asks for payment, ignore them and report it. Our only official channel is t.me/realdealdaily. Read our affiliate disclosure to see how the site is funded.